Pirate Radio

Richard Curtis

About the Movie

From the creator of Love Actually and Notting Hill comes a trip back to the freewheeling, free-loving ’60s when the very rock music that inspired a generation was censored by the government. When a group of rebellious deejays decides to defy the ban, they take to the seas to broadcast music and mayhem to millions of adoring fans. Featuring a soundtrack that includes The Who, The Kinks, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones and many more, it’s a feel-great film based on a true story that critics cheer is "exuberant!" (John Powers, Vogue)

Director

Screenwriter

Producers

Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews

TOMATOMETER

Top Critics' Reviews

Fresh: Boys will be boys and often at top volume in Pirate Radio, Richard Curtis's fanciful fiction about rebel broadcasters. – Manohla Dargis, New York Times, Jun 24, 2010

Fresh: The boat nearly sinks from character overload, and Curtis brakes when you most want him to gun it. But there's no denying the comic energy of the cast. – Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, Feb 2, 2011

Fresh: The film's original title was The Boat That Rocked. Indeed, these freewheeling, swinging '60s DJs braved their own Titanic to keep on rocking in the free world. – Claudia Puig, USA Today, Jul 7, 2010

Rotten: I started glancing at the time well before the midway mark. – Charlie McCollum, San Jose Mercury News, Jun 24, 2010

Customer Reviews

Nicely cast, good tunes

by
Rosehound

Sure, I was around when Pirate Radio was happening, so maybe I do like the movie because it reminds me of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. The movie was a surprise, and a good one. I enjoyed the casting and costuming, Bill Nighy, Emma Thompson and Rhys Ifans. The tunes, while not strictly dating from the 60's, were well chosen, perfect for a rainy afternoon on the couch with The Big Lebowski. Don't look here from serious drama. It was enjoyable and entertaining.

Can't decide

by
namtastic

Was Pirate Radio a bad movie? Or was it simply too nostalgic & friendly to possibly be any good?

Like an animated film, the characters are overly-colorful, the jokes (while rapid) are lightweight, and there's never any true crisis to be averted -- most times, a conflict that arises is neutralized immediately in the next scene. It's your Full Monty/Biily Elliot/Saving Grace-class feel-good-British-comedy-that-gets-an-American-release with less quirkiness and quite honestly nothing truly at stake until 5 minutes before the end. It feels like you're watching someone else's edited memories of the era.

It is presented as "based on a true story", but I believe the problem was the true story could be summarized in a quarter-page story in the paper.

Basically, if you do not personally remember the 60s, odds are you won't be pleased with this movie.

What ive been waiting for

by
ihatethismovesomuchiwanttokilltheactors

I am 14 yrs old and i dont like modern music much, this is the revival of classic rock that i have been waiting for. 5 stars for making a lottle boys dream come true